After pricing teachers out of jobs, CTU sets up laid-off employees to receive government assistance
After pricing teachers out of jobs, CTU sets up laid-off employees to receive government assistance
by Paul Kersey Barring a dramatic shift, more than 800 Chicago Public Schools employees, many of them dues-paying Chicago Teachers Union members, will be without jobs when schools open in the fall. But CTU, having collected more than $1,000 in dues per year from these people before pricing them out of their jobs, has made plans to help...
Little movement during Illinois’ first pension committee meeting
Little movement during Illinois’ first pension committee meeting
by Jane McEnaney On June 27, the Illinois General Assembly’s conference committee on pension reform met for the first time in Chicago. All 10 members of the bipartisan, bicameral committee were present. The committee met for five straight hours, hearing testimony from: Ty Fahner, President, Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago Jerry Stermer, Acting Director...
By Chris Andriesen
Moody’s: Illinois 2011 unfunded liability jumps by 65 percent
Moody’s: Illinois 2011 unfunded liability jumps by 65 percent
by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner Moody’s Investors Service reported that Illinois’ true unfunded pension liability in fiscal year 2011 was nearly 65% higher than the state’s official estimate. In its report titled “Adjusted Pension Liability Medians for U.S. States,” Moody’s calculated the unfunded liabilities for Illinois’ three largest state-run pension plans at $133 billion, compared...
By Chris Andriesen
Illinois’ 102 county online transparency audit
Illinois’ 102 county online transparency audit
One of the best protections against corruption is transparency, and in today’s digital age one of the easiest ways for government to be open and accountable is through posting public documents on the Internet. Unfortunately, most Illinois counties need to dramatically improve when it comes to online transparency. The Illinois Policy Institute recently audited all...
By Brian Costin
Illinois’ seemingly endless appetite: another $1.3 billion borrowing
Illinois’ seemingly endless appetite: another $1.3 billion borrowing
by Ted Dabrowski As if Illinois didn’t have enough debt to deal with, the state borrowed another $1.3 billion. The state says it needs the money for infrastructure projects. Illinois tapped the bond markets despite the current fallout from the state’s failure to reform pensions and the recent bond market instability, which drove states like...
Beck rights and abstention: The ways around a toxic union
Beck rights and abstention: The ways around a toxic union
A recent Google Consumer Surveys poll shows that a third of union household members would quit their union if it weren’t for the fact that doing so would cost them their jobs. Because Illinois lacks a Right-to-Work law, thousands of workers are forced to pay dues or fees to a union that they don’t believe...
By Paul Kersey
Comptroller seeks investigation into Washington Park’s missing $300K
Comptroller seeks investigation into Washington Park’s missing $300K
by Andrew Wyatt This year, Washington Park lost $300,000 of taxpayer money meant to cover village workers’ paychecks. The village also has not filed any financial reports, audits or tax statements to the comptroller’s office for the last seven years. The village of Washington Park, which is near East St. Louis, is no stranger to...
Increasing State Employee Retirement System costs fall on the backs of Illinois taxpayers
Increasing State Employee Retirement System costs fall on the backs of Illinois taxpayers
Employee contributions to the State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, have gone up by 66 percent since 1998. During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to state employee retirements increased by 593 percent. In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed $1.1 billion more to SERS than state employees did. And the disparity between taxpayer and employee...
By John Klingner
AFSCME vs. Illinois Policy Institute: government pension transparency
AFSCME vs. Illinois Policy Institute: government pension transparency
In a recent Facebook post, a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, called a government pension transparency initiative by the Illinois Policy Institute “offensive.” From AFSCME Local 427’s Facebook page: Bills Amended to Address AFSCME Concerns
Assault on State Retiree Privacy (HB 1040 – Rep. Tryon/Sen. Althoff) This bill establishes...
By Brian Costin
Illinois’ new normal: chronic unemployment
Illinois’ new normal: chronic unemployment
by Ted Dabrowski and Paul Schumacher Despite Illinois’ improved May unemployment numbers, the state continues to lag the nation in job creation. Illinois has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation – a position it has held since March. Illinois’ jobless rate dropped to 9.1 percent from 9.3 percent in May, according to the Bureau...
The fight for school choice lives on
The fight for school choice lives on
In May of 2010, the Illinois House of Representatives voted down the 2010 voucher bill. My hopes had been high for this bill, because I knew what school choice would mean for Illinois families. Vouchers mean freedom from failing schools; the possibility of students and families choosing their own path instead of being stuck with...
Illinois cigarette tax hike falls $130M short of projected revenues
Illinois cigarette tax hike falls $130M short of projected revenues
Remember when the state of Illinois said its new $1 cigarette tax would bring in $350 million in additional revenue? Unless this tax garners an additional $138 million in the next 10 days, these lofty projections are about to crash and burn. The cigarette tax hike, which took effect a year ago this month, is...
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report issued 175 days late
Illinois’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report issued 175 days late
If taxpayers don’t file their tax returns by April 15 each year they could face stiff penalties from state and federal government. But what about when government fails to file its financial report to the taxpayers on a timely basis? According to the Government Accounting Standards Board, or GASB, government agencies should release their financial...
By Brian Costin